Michael Fassbender's Penis Cost Him An Oscar Nomination

That's the contention of this GQ profile of the actor, who was getting lots of Oscar buzz for Shame until constant focus on his privates took away from the film's golden glow.

The author notes "the surreal, feverish totemization of penis size in our culture: People feel free to harp on about someone's penis as though this is not insulting or inappropriate because, if that penis is sufficiently large, any reference to it is, by default, flattering. (Were he possessed of 'an unimpressive sausage,' so to speak, far less would have been said.)

"This is why each time Fassbender's role in Shame is reduced to a simple act of undressing, no one seems to worry that it's an insult to everything else he did in the movie: He has a big dick, so he's got nothing to be unhappy about and every reason to smile at anything we might say on the subject. I think it really may be that idiotic."

Fassbender himself admits that he was sure his penis--I mean his being--was headed towards the Oscar ceremony.

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"At the beginning, people [say], 'You're going to be going to the Oscars,' and you're like, 'Whatever, doesn't matter, don't think so.' But after a while it does penetrate. After a while you're like, 'Anyway, so I'm going to the Oscars...' " He laughs.

"And you start to believe it. And I did. I thought I was going. And then I found out I wasn't and I was very upset by it. The first reaction was 'What the fuck...?'

"It's a vanity thing. It does become important to you. And it shouldn't."

I agree that the Oscars are squeamish about such things--plus the film is dark and doesn't give you an easy resolution.

The character doesn't change, and he comes off pretty passive through most of it.